Director, Government Relations

Sun Life U.S. is one of the largest providers of employee and government benefits, helping approximately 50 million Americans access the care and coverage they need. Through employers, industry partners and government programs, Sun Life U.S. offers a portfolio of benefits and services, including dental, vision, disability, absence management, life, supplemental health, medical stop-loss insurance, and healthcare navigation. We have more than 6,400 employees and associates in our partner dental practices and operate nationwide.

Visit our website to discover how Sun Life is making life brighter for our customers, partners and communities.  

Location: Must reside in the Southeastern part of the United States. Role requires travel.

The opportunity:

The Director of Government Relations is responsible for the development and execution of effective and creative government relations strategies on behalf of Sun Life in southeast region of the United States.

How you will contribute:

• Develop and execute state-specific strategies to introduce and influence legislation, regulation, and policy proposals that protect, enable and grow Sun Life priorities.

• Develop and maintain strong relationships with and act as liaison to Executive Branch officials, gubernatorial appointee level officials, state legislators, and key staffers within assigned region.

• Analyze proposed and enacted legislation, regulations and sub-regulatory guidance to inform operational and financial impact by partnering with internal subject matter experts.

• Identify, synthesize, and report on high-level political landscape and ways it impacts on-the-ground relationships, opportunities, and challenges to inform overall government relations department strategy.

• Develop relationships with aligned state trade associations, business leaders, and other external stakeholders to advance Sun Life priorities and strengthen relationships with elected officials and appointed regulatory leaders.

• Manage state contract lobbyists or other outside contractors within region.

• Know, adhere to, and educate other internal stakeholders on state lobbying and ethics rules.

• Other duties as needed or required.

What you will bring with you:

• BA/BS degree in political science, public policy, or related degree required, master's or other advanced degree preferred.

• 7+ years minimum experience in lobbying and/or relevant experience

• Experience with highly regulated industries.

• Knowledge of state political landscapes and impacts on business priorities.

• Ability to balance enterprise-wide thinking with day-to-day strategic execution in government relations spaces.

• Experience in working collaboratively with legislative staff and/or governmental regulatory agency leadership in multiple states.

• Strong ability to synthesize and communicate complicated policies to non-policy audiences both verbally and via written products.

• Excellent problem solving, analytical, planning and organizational skills.

• Ability to manage multiple projects, determine project urgency in a meaningful and practical way, use goals to guide actions and create detailed action plans, organize and schedule people and tasks.

• Ability to prioritize work and operate under tight deadlines

Salary: $154,700 - $232,100

At our company, we are committed to pay transparency and equity. The salary range for this role is competitive nationwide, and we strive to ensure that compensation is fair and equitable. Your actual base salary will be determined based on your unique skills, qualifications, experience, education, and geographic location. In addition to your base salary, this position is eligible for a discretionary annual incentive award based on your individual performance as well as the overall performance of the business. We are dedicated to creating a work environment where everyone is rewarded for their contributions. 

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We are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where all employees feel they belong, are supported and empowered to thrive.  We are dedicated to building teams with varied experiences, backgrounds, perspectives and ideas that benefit our colleagues, clients, and the communities where we operate.  We encourage applications from qualified individuals from all backgrounds.

Life is brighter when you work at Sun Life

At Sun Life, we prioritize your well-being with comprehensive benefits, including generous vacation and sick time, market-leading paid family, parental and adoption leave, medical coverage, company paid life and AD&D insurance, disability programs and a partially paid sabbatical program.  Plan for your future with our 401(k) employer match, stock purchase options and an employer-funded retirement account.  Enjoy a flexible, inclusive and collaborative work environment that supports career growth.  We’re proud to be recognized in our communities as a top employer.  Proudly Great Place to Work® Certified in Canada and the U.S., we’ve also been recognized as a "Top 10" employer by the Boston Globe's "Top Places to Work" for two years in a row.  Visit our website to learn more about our benefits and recognition within our communities.

We will make reasonable accommodations to the known physical or mental limitations of otherwise-qualified individuals with disabilities or special disabled veterans, unless the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on the operation of our business. Please email thebrightside@sunlife.com to request an accommodation.

For applicants residing in California, please read our employee California Privacy Policy and Notice.

We do not require or administer lie detector tests as a condition of employment or continued employment.

Sun Life will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including applicable fair chance ordinances.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.